"This record is a little like equipping yourself with a Eurail card," says Loreena McKennitt of her new studio recording, An Ancient Muse. "Itís like saying, 'I donít know where Iím going to go to on this trip. Iím just going to get on board the train, and allow each encounter to lead to the next.'"

Prepare to join that musical journey! In the coming week, An Ancient Muse will appear in shops worldwide. Key release dates include November 17 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland; November 20 in the UK; November 21 in Canada, the US, France, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Hungary and Brazil; November 24 in Italy, Greece and South Africa; November 25 in Australia and New Zealand; November 27 in Belgium, Holland, Hong Kong, Spain, Singapore, Venezuela and Lebanon.

"If I may be so bold as to have ambitions for this recording," Loreena says, "it would be to whet peopleís appetite, to broaden the scope of their awareness of our collective pastÖ I primarily see myself as being like a travel writer, because the best ones are those who serve as conduits and catalysts, rather than saying that itís all about them."